"Deer" Camera Project. 2010 - Present { 7 images } Created 17 Sep 2020
Title: "Deer" Project: Exploring Humanity's Relationship with Nature
Description:
The inspiration for the "Deer" camera project emerged from an unexpected visit to the International Wildlife Museum in Tucson, Arizona, with my two-year-old daughter. Anticipating a showcase of living animals, we encountered a collection of thousands of taxidermy creatures from around the world, housed within a museum owned by the Safari Club International, an exotic big game hunting organization.
Contemplating the disconnect between humans and nature, particularly the impulse to dominate and display dominance through trophy hunting, I delved into the perplexing human trait of elitist separation from the natural world. The project aims to scrutinize this aspect of humanity and the consequences of our desire to assert control over the environment.
The "Deer" camera serves as a unique lens, offering a deer's perspective on the world, seen through the antlers of a long-deceased deer. All images captured with this camera feature creatures that once roamed the Earth but succumbed to the desires of humans. The project's objective is to photograph 30 different animals, including humans, framed by the deer antlers mounted Infront of the camera, showcasing the inherent tension between humanity and nature.
Currently exhibited at ArtisanWorks in Rochester, NY, the "Deer" camera/photo installation invites viewers to reflect on the complexities of our relationship with the natural world and the repercussions of our need to assert dominance over it.
Deer Camera; Steel (3/4” plate found in the desert near Mexico), Brass (parts from an 1800’s gold scale), Bronze, Copper, Aluminum, Antler (very old swap meet find) and Ivory (carved hand from a 18th century Christ figure).
The “Deer” installation includes the 4”x5” Deer Camera, a steel rotating display mount for the Deer Camera that resembles an oil derrick, and three framed, mounted, signed, and dated prints shot with the Deer Camera.
Description:
The inspiration for the "Deer" camera project emerged from an unexpected visit to the International Wildlife Museum in Tucson, Arizona, with my two-year-old daughter. Anticipating a showcase of living animals, we encountered a collection of thousands of taxidermy creatures from around the world, housed within a museum owned by the Safari Club International, an exotic big game hunting organization.
Contemplating the disconnect between humans and nature, particularly the impulse to dominate and display dominance through trophy hunting, I delved into the perplexing human trait of elitist separation from the natural world. The project aims to scrutinize this aspect of humanity and the consequences of our desire to assert control over the environment.
The "Deer" camera serves as a unique lens, offering a deer's perspective on the world, seen through the antlers of a long-deceased deer. All images captured with this camera feature creatures that once roamed the Earth but succumbed to the desires of humans. The project's objective is to photograph 30 different animals, including humans, framed by the deer antlers mounted Infront of the camera, showcasing the inherent tension between humanity and nature.
Currently exhibited at ArtisanWorks in Rochester, NY, the "Deer" camera/photo installation invites viewers to reflect on the complexities of our relationship with the natural world and the repercussions of our need to assert dominance over it.
Deer Camera; Steel (3/4” plate found in the desert near Mexico), Brass (parts from an 1800’s gold scale), Bronze, Copper, Aluminum, Antler (very old swap meet find) and Ivory (carved hand from a 18th century Christ figure).
The “Deer” installation includes the 4”x5” Deer Camera, a steel rotating display mount for the Deer Camera that resembles an oil derrick, and three framed, mounted, signed, and dated prints shot with the Deer Camera.